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 NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 11, 2022) — The following is an announcement from the Nevis Water Department (NWD) regarding its disconnection schedule for 2022.

The Nevis Water Department (NWD) will be commencing its island-wide disconnection programme for 2022. Disconnections will take place in March, June, September and December. 

Customers in arrears over three (3) months are kindly asked to visit the NWD to make payments on accounts.

NWD is aware that some customers are experiencing financial hardship. Should you fall into this criteria, kindly apply for our Payment Arrangement Plan at our Customer Service Department.

We look forward to your kind co-operation and understanding during this time.

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February 11, 2022

Doping hearing to decide Russian skater’s Olympic fate

BEIJING (AP) — Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s right to compete in the women’s event at the Beijing Olympics will be decided at an urgent hearing at the Court of…Read More

AP Explainer: Putin’s Ukraine strategy mixes threats, diplomacy

MOSCOW (AP) — With Russia carrying out a massive military buildup near Ukraine and the West roundly…Read More

US urges Canada to use federal powers to end bridge blockade

TORONTO (AP) — The Biden administration urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government Thursday to…Read More

High energy prices send Europe’s businesses, homes reeling

ISTANBUL (AP) — Mehmet Bogday says his jaw dropped when he saw his electricity bill — it was higher…Read More

Sudan’s military rulers step up crackdown, arrest activists

CAIRO (AP) — Amira Osman, a Sudanese women’s rights activist, was getting ready for bed a few…Read More

UK defense secretary in Moscow amid Ukraine trensions

MOSCOW (AP) — Britain’s defense secretary visited Moscow Friday for talks on easing tensions amid…Read More

4th place can’t spoil White’s Olympic goodbye: ‘I’m not sad’

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — Shaun White bent down to one knee, set his snowboard on its edge and…Read More

Emotional support or hogwash? Man fights to keep his pet pig

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — Ellie the potbellied pig snuggles up to Wyverne Flatt when he watches TV…Read More

AP Photos: Best of an eventful day 6 at the Winter Olympics

BEIJING (AP) — Whether it’s on the ice, in the air or on the slopes at the Winter Olympics, The…Read More

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By Sir Ronald Sanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS.  He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.  The views expressed are his own)  

Global tension is rising concerning Ukraine, the second largest country in  Europe after Russia which it borders.   Ukraine was a part of the defunct Soviet union, declaring its independence in 1991 when the Union dissolved.

Should regions, as geographically distant from Ukraine as the Caribbean, care about the hostility that is escalating over it between Russia and the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) which includes the United States (US) and Canada?

The short answer must be yes.  Every region in the world would be impacted by a conflict over Ukraine.  The Caribbean would be affected by higher prices for oil and gas that would result from Russia cutting off oil supplies to Europe and the consequent competitive bidding in the markets from which Caribbean countries now purchase these commodities.  This would have been bad news for Caribbean economies at any time but, coming in a period when these countries are still struggling to recover from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, higher oil and gas prices would plunge many economies into further decline.

There would also be a knock-on effect on the cost of imported goods and services, including food and the provision of vital utilities such as electricity and water.

Beyond the economic and financial impact on the region if oil and gas prices rise, small Caribbean countries which came to independence by exercising the right to self-determination and which treasure their sovereignty and territorial integrity, would have to be very concerned should Russia invade Ukraine to bring it back under Russian control.

Any diminution in the sanctity of these norms of international law would pose a threat to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, such as Belize and Guyana, which are faced with territorial claims.

The root of the problem in the Ukraine rests in two things: the belief by the Russian government and especially President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine is, historically, part of Russia; and President Putin’s further conviction that NATO countries wish to use Ukrainian territory as a staging post against Russia.   Putin had repeatedly said that “we (Russia) are categorically against any further NATO expansion eastwards because it poses a threat to us”.   He adds, “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it is NATO coming to us and its illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behaviour”.

In 1991, when Ukraine became independent from the dissolved Soviet Union, it declared itself ‘neutral’.  No doubt, it did so, because even then it was wary of Russian ambitions to control its neighbouring states.  Ukrainian concern turned out to be justified when, in 2014, Russia encouraged forces in Crimea to declare it an independent Republic effectively annexing it to Russia.

The Crimea is physically a peninsula of Ukraine where Russia has, traditionally, stationed its Black Sea Fleet at the Port of Sevastopol.   Russia’s annexation of the area appears to have been a response to the Ukrainian government’s attempt to join the European Union (EU) – a move that was seen as a further step to link Ukraine to European countries that are also part of NATO.

In recent years, Russian unease over Ukraine increased over the Ukrainian government’s expressed desire to join NATO, and the latter’s pledge in 2008 to allow it to do so, although no date was set and still does not exist.

Russia has now amassed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine and sent a detachment of warships into the Black Sea.  All this has been interpreted by the Ukrainian government, NATO and the Western media as intent by Russia to invade.

Putin appears to have two objectives: the first is to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and the second is to limit the expansion of NATO to include any countries other than its present membership.  For their part, leading NATO nations, including the US have made it clear that they will not negotiate NATO’s membership with Russia.

Thus, the standoff continues, and tensions heighten amid recent efforts from NATO leaders to engage Russia in a dialogue.  An encounter between the Russian and British Foreign Ministers was summed-up by the Russian as “a mute talking to a deaf perso”.  And a visit to Moscow by French President Emmanuel Macron for talks with Putin showed no sign of a solution.   Russian-US talks also proved unproductive.

The danger of the Caribbean region being thrust into this row became evident when Sergei Ryabakov, who led the Russian delegation in a meeting with US officials on January 12, said he would not confirm or exclude Russia sending “military assets” to Venezuela and Cuba.  US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, described the Russian statement as “bluster”.

Bluster or not, the Caribbean cannot ignore events surrounding Ukraine – a country with which all CARICOM countries have diplomatic relations as they do with Russia and the NATO member states.

Considering contingency arrangements for oil and gas supplies – and their prices – is one thing that Caribbean governments should be collectively considering.  They should also be jointly indicating their concern to Russia, that however tempted it may be to do so, military intervention in Ukraine should not be contemplated and would not have the support of governments that uphold and respect international law.

In every international forum, Russia and the NATO nations should hear Caribbean governments, in a unified voice, calling for diplomatic engagement and not conflict to reach a solution to this problem that would leave Ukraine’s territorial integrity intact.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

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Americans do not need a government report to tell them they’re paying a lot more for groceries, gasoline, rent and utilities, thanks to inflationary pressures that on Thursday set a record — a 7.5 percent rise in consumer prices not seen for 40 years (The Hill).

An overall strong economy, but one with a scarcity of workers during a pandemic, may have pushed wages higher, but not enough for the middle class, Latinos and millennials to stay ahead of what analysts say shakes out to about $276 more a month in costs for the average U.S. household (CNBC). Most Americans did not receive 8 percent raises as 2022 began, which means they are falling behind, and they know it.

But recent studies point to Black women as the fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs in the country, with nearly 2.7 million nationwide (The Hill’s Changing America).

The New York Times: High inflation was anticipated in January’s consumer price index, but it was worse than expected.

The Wall Street Journal: From breakfast cereal to light bills, prices are up.

Whom do Americans blame for the price squeeze? The White House and Democrats who are preparing to face voters in November think President Biden and the party in power will be held to account (The Hill). Perhaps they already are: 58 percent of Americans say they disapprove of the job Biden is doing, according to a CNN poll released on Thursday. A large majority of those surveyed could not come up with a single idea when asked to name something they favored during Biden’s tenure (The Hill).

As the finger-pointing continues, Republicans and some Democrats insist part of the fault lies with what they believe was excessive federal stimulus approved by Congress in 2020 and 2021 to address the economic impact of COVID-19.

“I’ve been ringing the alarm bell forever… nobody’s been listening,” complained West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D), who holds great sway in the 50-50 chamber. “It’s a 7.5 percent tax on everything you buy. It’s unbelievable!”

Manchin (pictured below) almost single-handedly put the brakes on Biden’s nearly $2 trillion proposed Build Back Better social spending and climate agenda last year. The centrist senator is convinced he was correct. “We’re not in a financial position to do it,” he told reporters. “We’ve got to get our financial house in order. … Now’s not the time to be throwing caution to the wind and putting more trillions of dollars out” (The Hill).

© AP/Jose Luis Magana

Nonetheless, the president on Thursday continued to champion his proposals, bypassing the misgivings of Manchin and others. During a stop in Culpeper, Va., Biden said the spending proposals already approved by the House would lower drug prices. “In my Build Back Better legislation…we can do that. … Now we just have to get it through the United States Senate, and we’re close,” he said (The Hill).

Reacting to the inflation report on Thursday with a written statement, the president basically changed the subject. He touted what he sees as favorable wage growth as well as some economists’ projections that inflation will be tamer by the end of the year. “While today’s report is elevated, forecasters continue to project inflation easing substantially by the end of 2022,” Biden said (CNBC).

© AP/Alex Brandon

Also facing considerable blame is the nation’s central bank, which has been accused of being too slow to recognize the inflation warnings and is expected to begin raising interest rates in March. The January inflation data and expectations for higher interest rates sent stocks tumbling.

Analysts and Wall Street soothsayers warned Americans on Thursday that they may be tired of inflation, but they need to buckle up. The actions of the Federal Reserve will not and cannot provide relief for months (CNBC).

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By Associated Press 

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Police fired tear gas for a second day Thursday in attempts to break up protests by striking workers demanding pay increases at an industrial park in Haiti’s capital.

The workers employed at factories that produce textiles and other goods said they make 500 gourdes ($5) a day for nine hours of work and are seeking a minimum of 1,500 gourdes ($15) a day. Their demands come as Haiti has seen a sharp rise in inflation.

“Poor people can´t do anything with this miserable salary,” said Similien Luckgelson, one of the workers who joined the protest near the international airport in Port-au-Prince.

Strikers used burning tires to block a main road, and police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas. But demonstrators persisted, ultimately gathering in front of an industrial park that employs them and was shuttered on Thursday.

Police also fired tear gas at strikers on Wednesday.

Telemark Pierre, another factory worker, said salaries haven’t been adjusted in three years. He said that workers spend 200 gourdes a day on transportation alone and said their salary doesn´t cover basic needs.

He said workers will protest again next week if they don´t receive an increase in wages.

Factory workers chant anti-government slogans during a protest demanding a salary increase, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. The workers employed at factories that produce textiles and other goods say they make 500 gourdes a day for nine hours of work and are seeking a minimum of 1,500 gourdes ($15) a day. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

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U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai addresses the Geneva Graduate Institute on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the global economy and U.S. policy priorities ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland October 14, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

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